Tagged: Rays
It’s Early. But, Hey, These Games Still Count
Mark Teixeira blasted a three-run homer, his third three-run homer of the season, and fourth overall homerun, in the first inning of game two of a four game series against the Minnesota Twins at the Stadium that gave the Yanks an early 3-0 lead in this game.
Then, in the second inning, Andruw Jones, making his first start of the season, hit a solo shot that increased the Bombers lead to 4-0.
On the mound, CC Sabathia was strolling along at a very steady and solid pace, allowing no runs, and just two hits and one walk over seven strong innings of work, retiring the final 17 batters he faced.
So after seven innings it looked very good for the Yankees as a victory was clearly in sight, which would move their record to (4-1) after the first five games of the 2011 season. But as is the case in just about 95% of all baseball games throughout the Major Leagues these days, the dreaded “100 pitch-count” would come into play once again when Sabathia threw his 104th pitch that recorded the final out of the top of the seventh.
I made a pledge to myself at the start of this year that I would “try” to “not” talk about, or write about, the pitch-count this baseball season. But as the eight inning started to unravel for the Yanks with Rafael Soriano on the mound, I quickly called my friend on the phone and started to vent with rage about what was happening before our eyes.
Manager Joe Girardi decided his “ace” CC Sabathia was finished for the night because he had thrown 104 pitches. It did not matter that CC had retired 17 Twins in a row, allowed no runs on only two hits and a walk, or that the bullpen could have used a night off, especially since Freddy Garcia is scheduled to pitch the next game and surely will last only about five innings when the bullpen “will” be needed. CC is the Yankees “ace”. And if any starter in the rotation is going to stay on the mound into the eight and even the ninth inning, it is Sabathia who could very easily pitch 120-125 pitches every start. The “pitch-count” should not apply to CC, period !
Now, my opinion is not based on any second-guessing after the fact. When Girardi made the move, as I and most Yankee fans knew he would ’cause this is Girardi’s basic philosophy in regards to the starting pitchers, it annoyed me very much, as it always does when he takes out a starter who is pitching a great game, especially a shutout, and especially when CC Sabathia is on the mound.
As it turned out, Soriano was very ineffective during his time on the mound in the eight, allowing two walks and a hit to load the bases with two outs, before issuing his third walk of the inning that forced home a run to make the score 4-1.
Girardi then brought David Robertson into the game, who allowed a bloop double to right field by Delmon Young that cleared the bases to tie the score 4-4.
Still on the phone with my friend, I also second-guessed the Robertson move by Girardi. At this point I would have brought Mariano Rivera into the game to get a four-out save. But the damage was already done. Robertson did get the final out in the top of the eight inning. And Mariano pitched a scoreless ninth to take the game into extra innings tied at 4-4.
As the game entered the top of the tenth, with Joba Chamberlain not available to pitch on this night, Girardi called Boone Logan in from the bullpen. Logan started the inning by walking Span; then gave up a single to Nishioka and RBI single to Mauer that moved the Twins into a 5-4 lead.
Joe Nathan closed out the victory for the Twins by pitching a scoreless bottom of the tenth, recording his second save of the season. And that was the ballgame.
Reflecting on Rafael Soriano’s poor performance after he left the game, I was willing to give him a pass at the time, and still do give him a pass, because in my view Girardi should have let CC Sabathia pitch the eight inning.
But I do not give Soriano a pass for leaving the clubhouse after the game was over without talking to the media. That kind of action by Soriano will not be received very well by the media or the fans. And if Mr. Soriano continues to think he can just not answer questions after tough performances or losses, it will be a very uncomfortable time in the Bronx for the former Tampa Bay Rays closer.
Also, I do not give Joe Girardi a pass for this loss. A manager cannot always manage strictly by the book. And especially with CC on the mound, it’s time to throw away the “pitch-count”, and just let our “ace” pitch as long as he can in every start.
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Hank And Hal Dictate Soriano Signing
Just like their father, “The Boss”, George, the Steinbrenner boys, Hank and Hal, made their presence felt loud and clear by overruling GM Brian Cashman, ordering the signing of the Rays All-Star closer Rafael Soriano to become the Yankees “Bridge-to-Mariano” during the upcoming season, and hopefully in 2012. By 2013 if the “Great Mariano” retires, Soriano could become the next Yankees closer replacing the sure “first-time ballot” Hall of Famer, Mariano Rivera.
The above account of this move was reported in the Saturday, January 15, 2011 edition of the New York Daily News by Hall of Fame baseball writer Bill Madden, and Roger Rubin, a day after the Yanks announced the signing of Soriano.
As reported by Madden and Rubin, this turn around of the Yankees decison to sign Soriano goes back to “less than a week” ago when, “GM Brian Cashman had said he wouldn’t give up the first-round draft pick required to ink Soriano. But Hal and Hank Steinbrenner didn’t agree with this game plan – according to a source familiar with the Yankees’ thinking – and overruled him, giving the righthander a deal that could ultimately go to three years and pay him $35 million.”
The article goes on to say, “The overwhelming concern among the Yankees brass, the source said, was that the club was going into the season with an uncertain starting rotation and little protection for closer Mariano Rivera. The move leaves the team without the draft pick Cashman coveted, but with one of the best bullpens in baseball.”
Also, “According to the source, the Steinbrenners were bothered by Cashman’s blueprint. One of the big issues was that Joba Chamberlain, a prized prospect yet to reach an expected high ceiling, was going to be Rivera’s primary set-up man.”
“Cashman had maintained his confidence in homegrown relievers Chamberlain and David Robertson, but Bombers’ braintrust did not. If nothing else, they saw Soriano, coming off a career best 45-save season with a 1.73 ERA, as a premium insurance policy they couldn’t pass up.”
Along with the re-signing of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, the signing of Rafael Soriano is also one of the Yankees most important moves of this very disappointing off-season, so far. Not getting Cliff Lee, who signed with the Phillies; And not pursuing Carl Crawford, who signed with the Red Sox, really have been two major set-backs for the Yanks. Also, it looks like Andy Pettitte is leaning towrads retirement. So this leads to many interesting decisions that have to be made during spring training.
I praise Hank and Hal Steinbrenner for taking charge of the Soriano signing, like they should have.
Now I hope Hank and Hal will also settle another very pressing matter regarding the Yankees pitching staff by sending down the orders to put Joba Chamberlain in the starting rotation during spring training, to “finally” give Joba every opportunity to succeed as a starter this season.
After CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes, the Yankees starting rotation is “very weak” and “uncertain” as of this date. Surely Joba Chamberlain can fill the role of the fourth or fifth starter very nicely this season if he is given the chance, that, in my view, he really has not been given [so far] in his brief major league career.
Again, I say: “Let the great Joba debate continue” !!!
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
What A Relief For Yanks Bullpen
Well, it has been a very quiet winter (off) season for the New York Yankees so far. But on this freezing cold Bronx day in the middle of January, the Yanks announced the completion of a major bridge-building project by signing the Tampa Bay Rays “All-Star” closer, Rafael Soriano, to a three-year, $35 million deal, to become the Yanks eight-inning, “Bridge-to-Mariano”, set-up man.
There are player options built into the contract that would allow Soriano to leave the Yanks after each season if he chooses. But if the “Great Mariano” does decide to retire after the 2012 season, Soriano would be the leading candidate to become the next Yankees closer in 2013, replacing the “unreplaceable” Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in baseball history, and a certain “first-time ballot” Hall of Fame inductee sometime in the year 2018.
Soriano, 31, led the American League with 45 saves last season, allowing just 36 hits in 62.1 innings, with 57 strikeouts, and a 1.73 ERA. These are perfect numbers to solidify the eight inning relief workload for the Yanks, setting the stage for Mariano to close out victories in the ninth.
But with only 31 days remaining until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Yankees have many question marks regarding their pitching staff.
The starting rotation is very uncertain at this time with only CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and A.J. Burnett slated to be in the rotation. Cliff Lee decided to sign with the Phillies, even though the Yanks did make a better offer for him to pitch in the Bronx. Javier Vasquez was not re-signed [a smart move by the Yanks]. And Andy Pettitte is leaning towards retirement.
So that leaves Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre as the “front-runners” to win the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation. And I’m sure we will all see a full complement of a various random amount of “cast of characters” also battling it out for one of the starting spots.
Without Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte, though, the Yankees starting rotation looks very weak, at this point in time, only a month before spring training starts.
The closing end of the bullpen in the eight and ninth innings is set, and very solid.
This leaves the middle relievers, in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, to complete the bullpen and hold the score when they enter the games. Right now, these roles would be filled by: David Robertson; Boone Logan; Pedro Feliciano (with the Mets in 2010; signed for two-years); and, of course, Joba Chamberlain.
Ah, yes. Joba Chamberlain.
There are many pitching decisions that must be made by the Yankees braintrust during this upcoming spring training. And with the “weak” state of the starting rotation, in my view, the Yankees should give Joba every opportunity to start this year !
Let the great “Joba Debate” begin once again !!!
— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Yanks Trip Back To Texas Is In CC’s Hands
Well, there is not much more that I can say that has not already been discussed about the Yankees overall poor performance [so far] in the 2010 ALCS against the Texas Rangers. The Yankees are down three games to one. And very simply have been out-pitched; out-hit; and out-played.
The masterpiece painted by Cliff Lee in Game Three kind of really turned this series over fully in favor of the Rangers. But looking back to the stretch run in September, that’s when the Yankees great season up to that point really started to unravel. This reversal of fortune is reflected in the numbers 9-17. If only the Yanks played to a record of 17-9, instead of 9-17, they would have finished in first place in the AL East with a 103-59 record. Not a 95-67 “wild card” second place finish to the Division Champion Tampa Bay Rays (96-66).
Yankee fans heard it over and over again from Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman that, oh, yeah, of course, we want to finish in first place. But if we finish second, that’s not a big deal ’cause we will still make the playoffs as the wild card team. True enough, as that was the case when the Yanks entered the playoffs. But, in my view, that “wild card” attitude set the tone that we now see.
Resting starting players. Limiting innings of pitchers. Over-managing with an eye towards the post-season. Not fully focusing on winning the AL East, with the best American League record. This all led to a “mixed-message” that created a relaxed atmosphere that seems to have carried over to the playoffs, or at least to this series vs. Texas.
It is amazing. The three-game sweep of the Twins seems so far away. Of couse, the television schedule has a lot to do with that. And that is another story, for another day.
Just venting on my part, is all.
But I still hold out hope that the Yankees “can” turn things around today with CC Sabathia on the mound. All the Yankees have to do is focus on just playing one game at a time. And if they take the next two, I really think the momentum will be back in their favor when they face Cliff Lee in Game Seven. Then, maybe, only with a Yankees victory, though, all those mixed messages of September will become a little clearer to all us Yankee fans.
Anyway, “Go CC”. The plane to Texas is fueled and ready to fly.
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Update: Thursday, October 21, 2010
Game Five: Yankees 7, Rangers 2
The Yankees cut the Texas Rangers lead in the ALCS to three games to two, as the series now heads back to Texas for Game Six, and hopefully, Game Seven.
CC Sabathia did not have his best stuff in this game, but pitched well enough to win, tossing 112 pitches over six battling innings, while allowing two runs, on 11 hits, seven strikeouts, and “zero” walks.
The key for the Bronx Bombers was getting an early lead, scoring three runs in the second inning. That lead increased to 5-0 with two runs in the third on back-to-back homers by Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano (who has four homers in this series). Curtis Granderson also hit a solo homerun in the eight inning, to cap the score at 7-2.
Two solid scoreless innings of relief by Kerry Wood in the seventh and eight “built the bridge” for Mariano Rivera to enter the game in the ninth. And the “Great Mariano” delivered once again, closing out this must-win victory for the Yanks with a scoreless performance.
Everything looks a lot brigher for the Yankees today as they get ready to play Game Six on Friday, October 22nd, in Texas.
“Go Yankees” !!!
— Jimmy “BY&L”
Not Wild About Yanks Wild Card Finish …
But …
The Yankees did hold on to make the Playoffs, even though they finished the season with a (9-17) record over the final 26 games.
This weak finish resulted in the New York Yankees (95-67) not winning the AL East, the toughest division in all of Baseball, which placed the Bronx Bombers in second place behind the first place Tampa Bay Rays (96-66), who also did not play very well down the stretch. Thus, the Yankees entered the 2010 post season via the “wild card” route.
Overall, though, it was a great season for the Yankees. And with all the talk about who the Yanks MVP was this season, in my view, that honor belongs to CC Sabathia (21-7) with a 3.13 ERA. This opinion also extends to CC being honored with the American League MVP Award, as well as the AL Cy Young Award.
Without Sabathia’s great pitching performances throughout the 2010 season, the Yankees would not be playing in the post-season this year. CC was “Money” all year long. Especially considering A.J. Burnett’s (10-15) lost season on the mound; Andy Pettitte’s injury at mid-season; And Phil Hughes not pitching as well in the second half of the season as he did in the first half. The rest of the starting rotation was okay at best, while CC was the Yanks “Ace”, “MVP”, and should be awarded the AL “Cy Young Award”, and AL “MVP” Award.
My opinion about CC being the Yanks MVP takes nothing away from the Yankees great lineup which was “awesome” this season. It’s just, I think, without CC Sabathia pitching as well as he did this year, the New York Yankees would not be playing ball this October. CC was the main key to victory for the Yanks in 2010. He was the one Yankee, at least in this season, and in my opinion, that was “indispensable”, even more so than the “Great Mariano” Rivera.
Anyway, its great that September finally ended. There were way too many “mixed messages” being sent out by the Yankees braintrust about wanting to win the AL East. But if the Yankees finished second, that seemed to be okay with Manager Joe Girardi and General Manager Brian Cashman, as the Yanks would enter the playoffs as the wild card team. And so, that ended up being the result. A second place finish by the Bombers. A wild card berth into October baseball.
Of course, the ultimate goal for the Yankees every year is to win the World Series. Anything less would be a failure. So seeing the Yankees playing important games in October once again puts their second place finish this season into a distant memory.
Another “Fall Classic” is clearly in sight for the Yankees. And when the sun sets on this Baseball Season, all Yankee fans hope the #27 will fade into the horizon of the great Yankees history and tradition, with a new number, #28, raising up to take its place center stage in the Yankees Universe, “shining” for all to see, and glowing proudly …
“New York Yankees, 2010 World Champions” !!!
Enjoy the “Playoffs”, everybody …
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Eight Wins In-A-Row For Bronx Bombers
The Yankees (86-50) continued on their path to another first place finish in the AL East by taking the first two games of their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-3 and 7-5, in the Bronx, increasing their winning streak to eight games, and upping their lead to 2.5 games over the second place Rays (83-52). The third place Red Sox (76-60) lost a day-night double-header by an identical 3-1 score in both games to fall 10 games out of first, and 8 games behind the Rays in the wild card race.
The Bronx Bombers are on a late-season roll.
In the first game of this series, the Yanks were led to victory by another fine performance by Curtis Granderson, (2-for-3), with two walks, one run, and three RBI’s. Granderson continues his hot hitting ways since working on his swing with hitting coach Kevin Long. A great game by Brett Gardner, (1-for-3), with two walks, three runs, and one RBI, also contributed to the 7-3 win.
The Yankees bullpen also delivered a solid effort after starter Ivan Nova was replaced on the mound after throwing only four and two-thirds innings. Kerry Wood (W,3-4) was awarded the win by the official scorer for pitching the best of the Yankee relievers [in the opinion of the scorer]. The win could have easily been awarded to Mariano Rivera who closed out the victory by tossing a six-pitch scoreless ninth.
Berkman was (2-for-4); Pena was (2-for-4), with one RBI; and the rookie Nunez, who played short for Derek Jeter [who had a day off], raised his batting average to .308 with a (2-for-4), one run, day.
Derek Jeter was the major topic of discussion in the sports sections of the New York newspapers, and on Sports Talk radio, this past week. More on Jeter in another post.
In Game Two of this series, Manager Joe Girardi provided more controversy when he replaced starter Javier Vazquez in the fifth inning, with two outs, and runners on first and third, with the Yankees in the lead 5-3.
Over-managing by Girardi? Maybe, as this was the third time over the last couple of weeks that the Yankee manager has replaced his starting pitcher with only four and two-thirds innings of work on the mound. Nova in the first game of this series, and Dustin Moseley in his last start, were the other two starters to fall victim to Girardi’s quick hook.
Ironically, Moseley, who was called into this game to replace Vazquez, was taken out of the rotation and sent to the bullpen after his last start. And Vazquez, after two good bullpen appearances, was placed back into the rotation in Moseley’s spot to make this start against the Blue Jays. Sounds very confusing and over-calculating by the Yankees braintrust, doesn’t it?
At any rate Moseley replaced Vazquez in this game. And just as quick as one of Girardi’s hooks of late, he allowed a two-run double to Lyle Overbay that tied the score 5-5.
Vazquez could have been just as ineffective, or maybe he could have gotten out of the jam. At least he should have been given the opportunity to get the final out, and complete five innings that would have given him a possible chance to earn the win as the starting pitcher. Probably Vazquez should have just remained in the bullpen at this time since he has been effective in that role in his previous two appearances.
Well, the game remained tied until the seventh inning when Marcus Thames blasted a two-out, two-run homer (#11), that drove home Robinson Cano who kept the inning going with a two-out single, moving the Bombers into a 7-5 lead.
Thames has been just as hot at the plate as Granderson in recent weeks, hitting .314 with seven home runs and 13 RBI’s over his last ten games in the lineup.
Other than Moseley the bullpen was very solid the rest of the way in this game, as Logan, Chamberlain (W,2-4), Wood, and Rivera all pitched a scoreless inning each from the sixth inning on.
The Great Mariano closed out this 7-5 victory by recording his 29th save.
Anyway, when all was said and done, the Yankees ended up winning their eight straight game to stay atop the AL East by 2.5 games.
Even with the best record in baseball there is always room for some controversy.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Straight A’s For CC; Yanks 5-0 Win Sweeps A’s
CC Sabathia was brilliant today, on a hot, humid, afternoon in the Bronx, allowing the A’s only one hit over eight shutout innings, leading the Yankees to a 5-0 victory that completed a four-game sweep against the visiting Oakland team.
Sabathia improved his record to (19-5), and, also, improved his chances of winning this year’s American League Cy Young Award, as he increased the gap ahead of the other contending pitchers including 16-game winner David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays.
CC is now (11-0) in games he started this year at Yankee Stadium. And (16-0) with a 2.05 ERA in his last 21 starts in the Bronx, going all the way back to the All-Star break in 2009.
The Yankees once again lived up to their great tradition as the Bronx Bombers, blasting three home runs in their sixth straight win. The Yanks defeated the Chicago White Sox 12-9 and 2-1, in the final two games of that three-game series. And swept the A’s by the scores of: 11-5; 9-3; 4-3; and 5-0.
Jorge Posada hit a solo homer (#17) in the second inning to give the Yanks an early 1-0 lead.
Then, Curtis Granderson, who was not in the original lineup but replaced Nick Swisher who injured his knee in the first inning, continued his late-season power surge by hitting a solo homer (#16) in the sixth, and a two-run homerun (#17) in the seventh inning, that increased the Yanks lead to 4-0.
The Yanks scored their final run in the eight on a RBI single by Austin Kearns that drove home Lance Berkman, capping the score at 5-0 in favor of the Bombers.
Dallas Braden (L,9-10), was the A’s starter, and also had a solid outing on this hot day. But with no outs in the sixth inning he had to leave the game because of cramps he experienced on the mound [due to the heat] after throwing his final pitch.
The only hit by the A’s in this game, was a “clean hit” stroked by Mark Ellis in the second inning.
Sabathia ended up tossing 95 pitches throughout his eight strong innings on the mound, walking three, and striking out five, along with the one hit he allowed. Another solid “Money” performance by CC.
Albaladejo pitched a scoreless ninth to close-out the Yanks 5-0 shutout, which was caught by Posada.
The Yankees (84-50) increased their lead in the AL East to 1.5 games over the second place Tampa Bay Rays (82-51); and 8 games ahead of the third place Boston Red Sox (75-58), who in my view, are still very much in this race, as there still are many important games yet to be played between these three rivals before this regular season ends.
So, as September begins, the pennant race in the AL East continues.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Bombers Back On Track; CC Tames Tigers 6-2
Thirteen times this season the Yankees faced a starting pitcher they had never seen before, including Max Scherzer (8-9) of the Tigers and Bryan Bullington (1-2) of the Royals, both of whom earned victories against the Yanks in their last two back-to-back losses. In these games against unknown starters the Yanks have a record of (4-9). Interesting numbers with really no explanation as to [why?] this continues to happen.
So in last night’s second game of four against the Detroit Tigers at the Stadium in the Bronx, which featured a battle of both teams aces, Justin Verlander (13-7) vs. CC Sabathia (15-5), one would think with the way the Yanks have been playing of late, they would be greatly challenged to score many runs against Verlander. CC would have to be money [again] for the Yanks to win this game.
This is not to say the Yankees would rather face some rookie pitcher instead of Verlander, or Verlander instead of a rookie starter. They have no control over who pitches against them on the mound. This only talks to the point that the Yankees have not been playing very well lately and really needed a win [a must-win in fact] as they entered this game against the Tigers tied for first place in the AL East with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Well, the first inning provided much drama as Austin Jackson led off the game by hitting Sabathia’s first pitch into the left-field seats for a quick 1-0 Detroit lead. This was the former Yankee’s second homer of the year.
Not to be left out of this discussion, Curtis Granderson, whom the Yankees received in the trade for Jackson, made two outstanding catches in centerfield in the first. The first catch was made after a long run to just in front of the wall of the right-centerfield bleachers; and the second catch was a great diving play running towards left-center.
In the bottom of the first the Yanks battled right back. Brett Gardner led off with a single, and advanced to second on a walk to Derek Jeter. After Teixeira made the first out, Cano walked to load the bases. Then, Nick Swisher, back in the lineup after sitting out the last game with a right forearm injury, stroked a two-run single to move the Yanks into a 2-1 lead.
Granderson delivered again in the second inning by blasting a solo home run (#12), into the rightfield bleachers. This upped the Bombers lead to 3-1.
Justin Verlander (L,13-8), threw a lot of pitches in the early innings, and was finished at the end of the fifth. He tossed 114 pitches while allowing three runs, on five hits, five walks, and five strikeouts.
The Yankees did exactly what Joe Girardi talked about before the game. They got to Verlander, who had a 7.12 ERA in the first inning of his starts this season, early on in this game. Girardi said, “They [the lineup] did a great job. When Justin gets on a roll, he’s really difficult. We put some runs on the board early and made them stand up.”
Schlereth replaced Verlander. And in the sixth, the Yanks scored again on a two-out double by Gardner (2-for-3, with a walk, and run), which was followed by a RBI single by Jeter to give the Yanks a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Brandon Inge hit a homer (#8), to cut the score to 4-2.
Then in the bottom of the seventh, Robinson Cano also homered (#22); and, Pena drove home a run on a sac-fly to right to increase the Yankees lead to 6-2.
CC Sabahia (W,16-5), the first 16-game winner in the American League, struggled in the first few innings, but settled down nicely to pitch seven soild innings, throwing 115 pitches, while allowing two runs, on five hits, three walks, and nine strikeouts.
Money !!!
David Robertson pitched a scoreless eight. And Mariano Rivera closed out this 6-2 victory by pitching a scoreless ninth.
A must-win game, “Won” by the New York Yankees !!!
* Historic Note: In the fifth inning, Jorge Posada stroked a single to center, his 1,558th career hit, which tied Posada with Thurman Munson on the all-time hit list.
* Injury Report: – Alex Rodriguez (strain of left calf), listed as day-to-day.
– Lance Berkman (sprained right ankle), listed as day-to-day.
– Andy Pettitte (left groin strain), injured July 18th …
(Probably will not be back until the middle of September)
* And, Yogi Berra was back at Yankee Stadium for the first time since he suffered an injury as a result of a fall at his home. Yogi was not able to attend this year’s Yankees Old Timers’ Day celebrations on July 17th. Also, he could not attend the Hall of Fame inductee events about a week after Old Timers’ Day. Welcome back Yogi.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Yanks Bats Still Quiet … Lose 3-1 To Tigers
The last time the Yankees were shutout in back-to-back games was on May 12-13, 1999 against the Angels. Until the ninth inning of last night’s game against the Detroit Tigers at the Stadium, it looked like this rare event would happen again, as the Tigers held a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The Yanks did finally score a run, though; but, lost the game 3-1.
This loss coupled with the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 victory over Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers, dropped the Yankees into a first place tie with the Rays in the AL East, both with a record of (72-46). The Boston Red Sox (67-52) did not have a game scheduled yesteday. So they picked up a half game on the Yanks and are now 5.5 games behind in third place.
The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run homer (#7) by Ryan Raburn off Yankees starter Javier Vazquez.
Vazquez (L,9-9), lasted only four innings in this contest, throwing a way too high total of 106 pitches, while allowing two runs, on five hits, four walks, and six strikeouts.
Meanwhile, the Yankees were having trouble with [yet] another pitcher they were facing for the first time, Tigers starter Max Scherzer. The Yanks lost 1-0 to the Royals Bryan Bullington, in his first start against the Bombers on Sunday. And this game against the Tigers was trending in the same direction – another shutout loss.
Scherzer (W,8-9), delivered a soild six innings on the mound, throwing 115 pitches, while giving up no runs, on only two hits, two base-on-balls, and six strikeouts.
After Scherzer’s night was over after six innings, the Yankees did have some chances to score against the Tigers bullpen. But they left two runners on base in the seventh, and two runners on in the eight.
In the top of the eight, however, Miguel Cabrera hit a solo home run (#28) off Joba Chamberlain, to give the Tigers an insurance run that upped their lead to 3-0.
The game then entered the bottom of the ninth with closer Jose Valverde on the mound. And he did his best to help the Yankees end their scoring drought by basically self-imploding on the mound.
Robinson Cano walked, and was forced at second on a grounder by Joge Posada. Then, Curtis Granderson (3-for-3, with a walk), hit a hard line-drive single to right, which was followed by a walk to Francisco Cervelli that loaded the bases. Brett Gardner was up next, and was issued another walk by Valverde that forced home a run to break the shutout and cut the Tigers lead to 3-1.
Now, with one out, and the bases loaded, Derek Jeter was up at the plate. Jeter battled in a long at-bat, but on a 3-2 pitch grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. Gardner slid hard into Carlos Guillen trying to breakup the DP. But Guillen stayed his ground to make the play, throwing to first to seal the Tigers 3-1 victory.
The Yankees not only lost this game; they also lost Alex Rodriguez to a left calf injury; and Nick Swisher to a right forearm injury during the game. And with Lance Berkman also out with a strained foot injury from the Royals series, the Yankees are very short in the lineup and on the bench for the next few games as all injured players are listed as day-to-day.
A nice touch occurred in the first inning of this game when Johnny Damon batted for the first time. The Yankee Stadium crowd gave him a very warm round of applause, as this was Damon’s first time back to the Bronx since his free-agent signing with the Tigers.
Game Two of this series on Tuesday, August 17th, features a match-up of “aces” …
Justin Verlander (13-7, 3.72) vs. CC Sabathia (15-5, 3.14).
In my view, this is a “must-win” game for the New York Yankees !!!
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Power Surge By Yanks In KC; Blast 5 HRs; 3 By A-Rod
After the major rain storm and lightning display in the Kansas City sky during Game Two of this four-game series at Kauffman Stadium, the Bronx Bombers provided their own air show in Game Three, an arsenal of pyrotechnics of the baseball kind, by sending into orbit five home runs, including three by Alex Rodriguez, in route to an 8-3 victory over the Royals.
The Yankees power display began in the top of the sixth off Royals starter Sean O’Sullivan with the score tied 1-1.
A-Rod led off the inning by hitting a long homerun (#19) into the left-centerfield seats. Then after Cano hit a hard liner to left for the first out, Jorge Posada blasted a high and deep 421ft homer (#13) over the centerfield wall. Curtis Granderson followed by going back-to-back with Posada, belting another hard-hit long homer (#11) into the upper rightfield seats to increase the Bombers lead to 4-1, and knock O’Sullivan (L,1-4), out of the game.
The Royals scored two runs, including a lead-off home run by Wilson Betemit (3-for-5), in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3 off starter Phil Hughes (W,14-5). This would be Hughes’ last inning in this game, as he pitched okay, delivering 99 pitches, allowing three runs, on nine hits, one walk, while not striking out any Royal batters.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Mark Teixeira stroked an opposite field single through an open hole at short, the result of the shift the Royals were playing against Teix. Then Rodriguez continued the Yankees “power show”, blasting a two-run homer (#20), on a pitch that was down-and-in from pitcher Kanekoa Texeira, over the centerfield wall 419 feet from the plate, that upped the Yanks lead to 6-3.
And, as the game entered the top of the ninth, Alex Rodriguez saved the best for last. After another single by Teixeira (2-for-5), A-Rod put the final stamp of approval on this historic night by soaring his third homer (#21), high into the Kansas City sky off pitcher Greg Holland. This two-run blast was the longest of all, arcing 439 feet from Rodriguez’s bat into the left-centerfield “flowing water fountain”, capping the score at 8-3. A-Rod was (4-for-5) in this game with five RBI’s, giving him a league-leading 97 RBI’s.
For Rodriguez, this was the second time he hit three home runs in a game as a member of the New York Yankees. On April 26, 2005 against the Angels at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, A-Rod blasted three homers off starter Bartolo Colon, driving home ten runs.
Also of note in this game, every Yankee starter in the lineup got at least one hit. And, after Hughes left the game after six innings, the Yankees bullpen was once again very solid allowing no runs and only one hit over the final three innings to preserve the 8-3 victory.
So, a great win for the Yankees (72-44), who remain in first place in the AL East, two games ahead of the Rays (70-46) and six games in front of the Red Sox (67-51), as both division rivals also won their games yesterday.
Watching Alex Rodriguez hit the three homers in this game was not exactly as exciting as watching Reggie Jackson hit his three home runs in Game Six of the 1977 World Series against the L.A. Dodgers at Yankee Stadium, on three straight pitches, against three different pitchers. But this power display by A-Rod was certainly exciting and fun to watch.
Most importanly though, Rodriguez, and Posada, and Granderson, all helped the Yankees win a big ball game, in the middle of a pennant race, with their home runs. And, that is the most exciting ending to this night. A Yankees victory.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 